Luxury Safari Glamping With Gorilla Tracking At Nyanga River Lodge, Moukalaba-Doudou

This complete 8 days Gabon safari package provides the perfect escape into unspoiled ecosystems, introducing you to a large variety of landscapes with fantastic wildlife encounters and all in style, by staying at the luxury tented camp at Nyanga Lodge in the heart of Moukalaba-Doudou, Gabon.

Kick off your Gabon travel in Libreville at the Tropicana Hotel or Hoteliere Sabliere. The following morning, we’ll catch a private charter from Libreville  to Gamba Airport (at the moment only scheduled charters on Thursdays!), then transfer via car and boat to Nyanga Lodge at Moukalaba-Doudou National Park. Enjoy daily treks spotting forest elephants, hippos, gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills, and diverse birds.

Explore the park by boat through savannas and wetlands looking for crocodiles and buffaloes. For humpback whale watching, we go to Mayumba, (Jul-Sep). During nightwalks we’ll go look for nocturnal species like genets, pottos, leopards and owls. We’ll return to Libreville through Gamba by charter flight. Please, have at least an extra buffer day in case there is no flight available as it's a one and half day drive from Tchibanga to Libreville.

Moukalaba-Doudou National Park
Dubbed the "Great Ape" haven, Moukalaba-Doudou National Park spans vast Gabonese forests, ideal for primate fans with high densities of western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees, plus other monkeys. Our walking safaris are led by expert guides and pygmy trackers. Nyanga Lodge offers deluxe tents on a peninsula blending river and ocean, where you might spot calving humpback whales from your balcony.

Mayumba
Coastal Mayumba, near Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, draws ocean enthusiasts with its marine park hosting over 10% of southern humpback whales birthing from July to September. Watch breaching displays and humpback dolphins—rare globally.

Nyanga Lodge
Perched between Nyanga River and Atlantic, this pioneering lodge in Moukalaba-Doudou excels in turtle nesting (seasonal), birdwatching, marine life, and primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas. Daily activities include foot safaris for close elephant views, ancient trees, and a large variety of wildlife. Enjoy a cocktail in the evening and multi-course dinners on decks or beaches under stars, with bonfires for ambiance.

Itinerary 

Day 1: Arrival at Libreville 

Land at Leon Mba International Airport. Transfer to your hotel (Tropicana, La Sablière or Radisson Blu)

Day 2: Charter from Libreville to Gamba: Nyanga Lodge 

Scenic flight from Libreville to Gamba Airport, transfer through river and mangroves to Nyanga Lodge, uniquely set on a peninsula between river and ocean—famed for turtles, birds, sea life, and apes. It's the park's first such accommodation, with whale views from luxury tents. Lunch awaits while staff handles luggage; inform managers of dietary needs. Afternoon forest walk for potential close-ups with elephants and other wildlife. Sundowner followed by dinner on the viewing deck. 

Day 3: Gorilla tracking at Moukalaba-Doudou National Park 

Early morning gorilla and chimpanzee tracking at Moukalaba-Doudou, aka the 'Great Ape' Park as it features Gabon's densest wild western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees, along with other primates. Afternoon foot safari in a different section of the park, followed by sundowner and dinner at Nyanga lodge. 

Day 4: Boat safari at Moukalaba-Doudou National Park 

Early breakfast around 6 am followed by boat safari, northeast toward savannas and wetlands, likely spotting hippos, three crocodile species, forest buffaloes, stunning birds, and possibly elephants in the water. Picnic lunch in a savanna or shaded forest spot.

Back to the lodge in the afternoon and starlit dinner at Nyanga Lodge. 

Day 5: Whale watching at Mayumba National Park 

Whale watching at Mayumbe National Park, Gabon is possible from July to Septembers, 10%+ of southern humpback whales birth along shores from Nyanga to Mayumba. Rare humpback dolphins often join—Gabon is a top spot for seeing them. Overnight at Nyanga Lodge. 

Day 6: Safari at Moukalaba-Doudou 

Morning walking safari, early dinner and night boat safari looking for hippos, civets, leopards, genets, owls, flying squirrels, lorises and other nocturnal animals.  Back before 9 pm. Overnight at Nyanga Lodge. 

Day 7: Gamba - Libreville flight 

Return to Libreville and transfer to your hotel.

Day 8: Departure flight 

Transfer to Libreville International Airport and departure. 

Important! Gabon's infrastructure is not as developed as in other countries and we still suffer from blackouts and sometimes water can get cut. Please, have realistic experiences, especially when going into the wild. Please, bring the necessary means to bring camping and traveling as comfortable as possible (torches, power banks, DEET, an extra towel and sheet, baby wipes, water, snacks, etc)

Important! Scheduled charters between Gamba and Libreville are only on Thursdays. Private charters have to be arranged well in advance!

• The Radisson Hotel and Hotel La Sablière are excellent hotels, though still not at the same level of a hotel in Europe/US. 

•  The luxury camps of Nyanga and Loango Savannah Camp are designed to have a comfortable glamping experience in the wild with comfortable beds, solar energy and more. Please, be aware that you are in the wild, so there will always be insects and small critters. The camps do their best to have the tents spotless and mosquito-free, but take measures. 

• Always be aware that trains and flights can get cancelled and delayed, it's good to have buffer days. 

• Leatherback turtles can be seen during a nocturnal visit from November until late February at the Nyanga Camp in Moukalaba-Doudou and can also be seen at Pongara National Park if you would like to add this to your booking. 

• Humpback whale watching is possible from June until September. 

• Consult your doctor for malaria meds and other diseases. Make sure to protect yourself against mosquitoes (long pants, closed shoes with socks, DEET, etc). 

• Make sure to have your yellow fever vaccination card on you on arrival, as well as your visa, invitation letter, hotel bookings and flight tickets.

• The Gabon e-visa system has not been working. We offer assistance for this at 120 euro per person to get the e-visa for longer tours. For tours of only two nights or shorter, we charge 230 euro per person. 

• Luggage allowance: if you will be hiking from Loango to Sounga, we do not recommend more than 10 kg/person. If you’re going to Loango / Moukalaba-Doudou by plane, a maximum of 20 kg is permitted per person and subject to payload. 

• Credit card: it is possible to use your credit card in Libreville, but at the parks, everything is handled by cash. 

• Tips: tips are not expected but always welcome. We recommend 15 euro per person per day and 15 euro for all general staff per person per day. 

• Reservation: your booking is confirmed with a 30 percent deposit. For bookings at Loango National Park and Moukalaba-Doudou Nyanga Lodge we require a 50 percent non-refundable deposit and signed waiver and booking terms.  In some cases, third party supplier terms and conditions may require a higher deposit,particularly during peak periods; in this case, we will inform you accordingly.

• The outstanding balance must be paid 60 days before the trip for general tours and for tours to Loango National Park and Nyanga Lodge at Moukalaba-Doudou 90 days before the trip commences. All payments are to be done by bank transfer to our US Bank Account. We do not accept credit cards or WUM. 

• Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory and must be taken out at the time of booking confirmation. Coverage should include trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical and related expenses, lost baggage, liability and travel delays. If you plan to participate in a dangerous or high-risk activity, please inform your insurer as additional coverage may be required. Our company cannot be held responsible for any loss incurred due to cancellation, regardless of the circumstance.

•  Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the return date of your trip and contain at least three blank pages for visas, excluding validation pages.

• Children under the age of 12 years are, regretfully, not allowed.

• Rates shown are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances such as increased government taxes and levies.